Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Tonight Bob & I are heading out on the town with a few dear friends! I am really looking forward to it. I think we have spent every New Year's Eve since we have know each other home. We end up being asleep on the couch before the New Year even arrives. At least I know we will see it in this year. LOL!!

Monday, December 29, 2008

On Monday, December 22, 2008, my dear friend & fellow quote lover, Carolynn, posted a quote in her blog that hit me HARD! That quote: "If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?"

Since early September, my dad & step-mom are not talking to one of my brothers and I because we would not give them a substantial amount of money to bring their mortgage current so they could avoid going into foreclosure.

Some of you know how my dad & step-mom have struggled financially since my dad had a heart attack in July 2007. He applied for and was approved to receive Social Security. There was a short period where they had no income because SS had not kicked in yet & his pay from his employer had run out. My brothers & I loaned them some money until they could sell the second car they no longer needed. The car sold quickly, and we were paid back.

My step-mom does not work either and hasn't since before dad's heart attack. Obviously, the SSI is significantly less income than they were earning prior to the heart attack, but they still have done nothing to change their lifestyle. They have cable with premium channels, high speed internet, two cell phones, a land line, etc. He purchases pay-per-view movies. They go out to lunch and/or dinner as much as, if not more than, they did before. She shops like they don't have any bills & their income is what it was if not more than before. So, basically, they do nothing to help themselves.

It broke my heart to say no to my dad, but I knew I had to! Giving them the money would have only made a bad situation worse. (They did end up getting money from my uncle, but it turned out they did not need as much as he was saying.)

I have called him numerous times (two since reading the quote) and left messages. He will not return my calls. I know in my heart I did the right thing by telling them no, but it still breaks my heart to be on my dad's "list". He comes from a family with a long history of holding grudges. I would have thought that losing parents & your oldest brother while they are on "that list" would change break that cycle.

So, "If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?"

Sunday, December 28, 2008

I had grown very tired of my old profile pic so I snapped about 30 or so self-portraits a few days ago. The best shot has replaced my old one. Here it is a bit larger, but not so large it will scare you away...lol!!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Friday, December 26, 2008

Since we have done more than our part to try to boost the economy in the last six to eight weeks, Bob & I we would not exchange gifts. The computer was our gift to each other -- at least it was supposed to be. I did get him a movie (Get Smart) & the traditional Christmas Eve pajamas. That little stinker surprised me with this...

I spotted this one a couple months ago in the Coach case at a department store and fell in love with it. While out finishing up our shopping last week I spotted it on a table that was 30% off. I mentioned it to him, and forgot about it until I opened it Christmas Eve. He got an excellent deal thanks to that sale at & opening an charge account! It ended up being nearly 50% off retail! Woohoo!!

Now I am in the market for a new wallet. Hope to find one with that awesome bronze leather on part of it!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I can't believe I am not out shopping today or planning a late night wrapping session. All my shopping was done on Monday & I wrapped the last present this morning around 9:30.

We are home from our Christmas Eve church service (it was lovely) and now I am waiting for the turkey breast & potatoes to get closer to the finish line so I can get the veggies & rolls going.

It's just Bob, Olivia & I here today. After we eat we will watch a Christmas movie, open the gifts from Bob's parents & the new PJs Santa dropped off early. Then we will settle in for our long winter's nap...lol!

Hope you all are having a nice Christmas Eve with your family and/or friends!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Both Bob & Olivia have snow days today! The snow started falling after midnight last night & by 5AM there was over 5 inches on the ground with more than that still to fall. The official total at the airport was 11.4, but we are about 10 miles southeast of there where totals are higher. We ended up with about 13 or 13.5.

Other than some light flurries that won't amount to much the snow is over. Our driveway and "porch" are all cleaned up & we're ready for he next round Saturday night into Sunday - another 4-7! Woohoo!

Should the 4-7 be right, that will move us to the second snowiest December on record. I'm hoping we smash the record of 49.5! Which is possible since we have snow in the forecast every few days & it doesn't look like that pattern will change any time soon.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Today was my last Photo 101 class! I am both happy & sad that it is over!

We watched the slide shows of all the students in my class. From the looks of some of the images, I'm not sure some of them got much out of the class, and at least one of them is a photography major.

I got a B, and am very pleased! I knew I wouldn't get an A since I wasn't able to work out time to shoot in the studio. If we shot in studio it had to be during my class hours, and with DD in school & mom at work during that time it just wasn't possible.

I learned a lot in this class and am looking forward to the next one which starts Jan 23!

Now to get those slides digitized so I can share some of my best images with you all.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Today is the day that every single photo for my semester project needs to be taken. Olivia got out of school early today & we went to the park to take some pictures. Talk about not the best day to be at the park -- it was 12 degrees while we were out there. BRR!! Drove to a location, shot a few frames, went to the car to warm up...err...I mean to find a new spot!

The pictures are taken and have been dropped off for processing! I will pick them up tomorrow morning & am praying that this snow is mostly cleaned up by the time I have to make that LONG trek again!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Saturday's To Dospick up truck CHECKtake Olivia to bank CHECKtake Olivia to work CHECKship packages CHECKdrop off dry cleaning CHECKbuy slide film CHECKmeet friend for quick lunch CHECKpick Olivia up from work CHECKshoot at least three rolls of film of Olivia for semester project (weather did not cooperate!)go shopping with Olivia (Olivia did not cooperate...lol -- teen attitudes have to have consequences, right?)go to dinner with Olivia CHECKgo to see TWILIGHT with Olivia (see shopping)

Friday, December 12, 2008

It took $654, but my car is ready for pick up. I have a full day planned for tomorrow that includes walking up to the shop to pick her up.

Since Bob is out of town I have been driving his truck. I like it a lot, but it's just not mine so I'm not as comfortable driving it. I'll be happy to be driving my little Blazer again!Tomorrow's To Dospick up trucktake Olivia to banktake Olivia to workship packagesdrop off dry cleaningbuy slide filmmeet friend for quick lunchpick Olivia up from workshoot at least three rolls of film of Olivia for semester projectgo shopping with Oliviago to dinner with Oliviago to see TWILIGHT with Olivia

Thursday, December 11, 2008

2. Talked to my teacher today about the View Camera Techniques class waiting list. He said he would talk to the instructor of that class for me. He did, and I am able to join the class! All I have to do is show up on the first day & he will sign an "overload" so I can take the class.

Three cheers for cool instructors who will pull strings for their students! :D

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

A little over a month ago I spent a little time playing with the macro setting on my digital camera. These are the same daisies I used in my studio shoot for photography class. They lasted over two weeks and I got lots of photos using them...

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Shelbi over at Keeper of the Chocolates wrote a lovely entry about the things we surrender as mothers. Things that are less than perfect, but in the grand scheme of things are worth surrendering.

There are several things that come to mind for me, but the main one is Olivia's room. Especially her closet & drawers. My closet & drawers are in perfect order most of the time. Each piece of clothing has its place.

I got tired of nagging her about straightening her clothes, and a few years ago I gave up that battle. However, there is a trade off -- she is now responsible for putting away her own clothes and ironing anything that was shoved in a drawer that is too wrinkled to wear. If I find something she has not worn & put in the hamper because it was too wrinkled, I keep it for at least a week. We are both much happier that this issue has been put to rest.

Monday, December 08, 2008

I finished decorating the real tree in the living room just a few minutes ago. I love the color scheme of ornaments on this tree, but I definitely need to find more ornaments that are NOT round, glass balls.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Saturday, December 06, 2008

The end of last January I had to take my car in because it got "stuck" in 4 wheel drive. I was able to get it out, but it would not go back in. They kept it for two days trying to find a problem and found nothing. They reset something (I left last year's paperwork with them & can't recall what they reset.) It worked fine for the rest of last winter & for the little bit of winter weather we have had so far this year until Thursday morning. So that Chevy is spending a couple nights with our mechanic.

I don't think I ever told you all that my mom is a "h00ker", and we're all proud of her...lol!

Rug h00ker that is...LOL!! The photos above are of the one made for me for last Christmas. I got it back recently because she entered it in a couple shows and wanted to photograph it for the records she is keeping of the projects she has done.

It will go in our home office -- the only room that hasn't been redecorated since we moved here in 2000. This rug will serve as inspiration for color & style. I can't wait to get going on it after I complete a few other projects!!

Friday, December 05, 2008

Why did we wait to sign up for view camera? As of about 10:00 last night, there were three spots remaining. This morning there was only one! My friend got the final spot & I am on #1 on the waiting list crossing my fingers someone will drop! And really hoping they drop before classes start. I will be checking my school email daily now since we have 48 hours to respond or it goes to the next person. Guess how many times that account had been checked before today. If you said ZERO, you are correct!

Thursday, December 04, 2008

My photography final exam was today -- I think I did very well! Only two more classes to go...

Signing up for the next one tomorrow. I'll be taking a view camera class. Not so much to learn about the view camera as to learn to develop & to fulfill a requirement so I can take the Composition class that really interests me!

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

My new look is really an old look! I have revived my blog look from last winter, but with different font colors. The header has 2007 because that is when it was created. I am not confused about the year...lol!! I don't want to add my ancient photo editing program to my computer now, and have yet to pick up a newer version. Photo editing is not at the top of my list of priorities right now. Gifts to buy, gifts to wrap, cards to write and mail out, etc are priorities.

I think I have fixed the issue with a portion of the header disappearing in IE after scrolling to the bottom of the page and then back to the top.